NBC2 back on DirecTV's station lineup

FILE - This Nov. 17, 2009 file photo shows the NBC peacock logo in New York. Television viewers in 10 U.S. markets will be able to watch their local NBC stations on computers and mobile devices, as NBC starts offering live streaming Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)(Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP)

"It was a lot of hard work," Pontius said of the new three-year agreement. "The good news is everyone has service."

Pontius said the return of service was not as easy as throwing a switch. "In essence, it is flipping a couple of switches, but not that simple." He said technicians on both sides had to make sure signal details were set up, and video returned before audio, but by game time everything was up and running perfectly, he said.

Local TV station NBC2 suddenly disappeared from DirecTV on Wednesday, although notices alerting DirecTV viewers of an impending possibility of the station's blackout had been posted for some time.

In a message to customers that was once posted on its website, satellite TV provider DirecTV had claimed NBC2 (WBBH-TV) deliberately blocked its transmission signal after contract negotiations broke down Tuesday night.

"We asked Waterman Broadcasting (the company that owns WBBH) to allow our customers to keep watching WBBH while we finalize this behind-the-scenes business agreement," the post said. "But they refused. We can have WBBH back into your home within moments of Waterman Broadcasting granting its permission."

But Pontius said it was DirecTV that flipped the "off" switch, and it's not fair that he and his company are being portrayed as greedy bad guys.

On Sunday Pontius said the two companies were continuing to negotiate.

"We don't have a deal yet," he said shortly before 6 p.m. "We will probably go right to the (8:30 p.m.) game time."

Pontius said the two sides had gone back-and-forth with multiple deal offers.

DirecTV pays to broadcast NBC-2 shows such as "The Blacklist" and "The Voice."(Photo: NBC, ~Courtesy of Tyler Golden/NBC)

He estimated that about 15 to 20 percent of NBC-2 viewers watch the channel on DirecTV.

Contract negotiations between Waterman and DirecTV started in August after the station's three-year contract with DirecTV expired, Pontius said. Waterman has granted DirecTV six contract extensions since then, he said, but he hadn't gotten another "reasonable offer" by the time the sixth and final extension expired at midnight Tuesday.

DirecTV and other satellite and cable TV providers must negotiate with NBC-2 and other TV stations for the rights to broadcast their shows. That licensing money goes to keeping NBC-2's various programs on the air, including "Wheel of Fortune," "The Blacklist," "The Voice," "America's Got Talent" and local news programs.

"I have obligations," Pontius said. "I have to pay for 'Wheel' and 'Jeopardy.' I have to pay NBC for its programming. I have to pay for our local radar that saves lives. I have to pay for news vehicles. I have to pay for fair salaries."